it has been leaked to the reuters news agency that on president obama's short list for defense secretary is the republican, former republican senator, chuck hagel. it is interesting that, today, the white house is doing some leaking to news agencies. reuters cited an administration official, that is all we know, but chuck hagel is on the short list. and the white house says reuters and us plans to announce the new defense secretary and secretary of state, some time over the next two weeks. >> too little, too late; president obama's response to the g.o.p. plan to avoid the cliffally. in an interview with blomberg tv the president said there is not enough time to pull off the republican's proposal that overhauls the tax system and entitlements at tate days from going over the fiscal cliff which is called the series of spending cuts and expiring tax breaks which would be an economic disaster. the sticking point is the call for higher taxes for families, higher taxes on amounts earned above $250,000. everyone gets the tax cut, the first $250,000 is not taxable only but that. the president sa